Methods and systems to meter media content presented on a wireless communication device

Abstract

An apparatus to generate media metering information includes a display to present selectable options for a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity to be used in association with generating the media metering information indicative of media content presentations; a processor to access an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including no anonymity, partial anonymity, and total anonymity; and a metering information generator to generate the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus to generate media metering information, comprising:
 a display to present selectable options for a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity to be used in association with generating the media metering information indicative of media presentations; 
 a processor to:
 access an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including a no anonymity level, a partial anonymity level, and a total anonymity level, the no anonymity level corresponding to providing demographic information, the partial anonymity level corresponding to providing only a device identifier or a postal zip code, and the total anonymity level corresponding to providing none of the demographic information, the device identifier, and the postal zip code; and 
 update the display to present a user interface screen in response to a user-selection of the no anonymity level, the user interface screen to obtain user input of the demographic information; and 
 
 a metering information generator to generate the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the user interface screen is to prompt the user to select to provide the demographic information via the apparatus, via a phone call, or via another device. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of media identifier information indicative of media presented via the apparatus, web browser usage information, a geographic location of a cell tower transmitting media to the apparatus, or a geographic location of the apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code without including additional demographic information when the partial anonymity level is selected, and the media metering information does not include the at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code when the total anonymity level is selected, the media metering information to be stored in a memory and transmitted to an audience measurement entity. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the metering information generator is to generate the media metering information based on media presented via the apparatus. 
     
     
       6. An article of manufacture comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to at least:
 request a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity from selectable options of a display to be used in association with generating media metering information indicative of media presentations; 
 access an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including a no anonymity level, a partial anonymity level, and a total anonymity level, the no anonymity level corresponding to providing demographic information, the partial anonymity level corresponding to providing only a device identifier or a postal zip code, and the total anonymity level corresponding to providing none of the demographic information, the device identifier, and the postal zip code; 
 update the display to present a user interface screen in response to user-selection of the no anonymity level, the user interface screen to obtain user input of the demographic information; and 
 generate the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection. 
 
     
     
       7. The article of manufacture as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the user interface screen is to prompt the user to select to provide the demographic information via a wireless communication device, via a phone call, or via a website. 
     
     
       8. The article of manufacture as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of media identifier information indicative of media presented via a wireless communication device, web browser usage information, a geographic location of a cell tower transmitting media to the wireless communication device, or a geographic location of the wireless communication device. 
     
     
       9. The article of manufacture as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code without including additional demographic information when the partial anonymity level is selected, and the media metering information does not include the at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code when the total anonymity level is selected, the media metering information to be stored in a memory and transmitted to an audience measurement entity. 
     
     
       10. The article of manufacture as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the metering information generator is to generate the media metering information based on media presented via a wireless communication device. 
     
     
       11. A method to generate media metering information, comprising:
 requesting, by executing an instruction with a processor, a user to select one of a plurality of levels of anonymity from selectable options of a display to be used in association with generating the media metering information indicative of media presentations; 
 accessing, by executing an instruction with the processor, an anonymity selection of one of the levels of anonymity, the levels of anonymity including a no anonymity level, a partial anonymity level, and a total anonymity level, the no anonymity level corresponding to providing demographic information, the partial anonymity level corresponding to providing only a device identifier or a postal zip code, and the total anonymity level corresponding to providing none of the demographic information, the device identifier, and the postal zip code; 
 update, by executing an instruction with the processor, the display to present a user interface screen in response to user-selection of the no anonymity level, the user interface screen to obtain user input of the demographic information; and 
 generating, by executing an instruction with the processor, the media metering information in association with the anonymity selection. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as defined in  claim 11 , further including retrieving demographic information corresponding to the user from a subscriber account database of a wireless service provider based on the anonymity selection. 
     
     
       13. The method as defined in  claim 12 , further including analyzing the media metering information based on the retrieved demographic information. 
     
     
       14. The method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of media identifier information indicative of media presented via a wireless communication device, web browser usage information, a geographic location of a cell tower transmitting media to the wireless communication device, or a geographic location of the wireless communication device. 
     
     
       15. The method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the media metering information includes at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code without including additional demographic information when the partial anonymity level is selected, and the media metering information does not include the at least one of the device identifier or the postal zip code when the total anonymity level is selected, the media metering information to be stored in a memory and transmitted to an audience measurement entity. 
     
     
       16. The method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the generating of the media metering information is based on media presented via a wireless communication device.